Rayndance
Active Member
Hey guys, I know it's been a year or so, but I have some sad news about Takoda (or Koda, I usually call him). He was just diagnosed with pasteurella and I am heartbroken by this news.
This is going to be kind of a long post, so bare with me. I have been moving frequently and due to some major family problems, I had to move back to Portland, OR from Medford, OR on a very short notice. Unfortunately I could not take Koda with me for the first two months of me being back in Portland, so he stayed with my Dad and and my Dad agreed to care for him until Koda was able to be returned to me.
While Koda was staying with my Dad in Medford, I ordered Koda's supplies online and had it directly shipped to my Dad's door so he didn't have to hassle with getting his food and litter himself. However, when I tried to send money to my Dad to get Koda scheduled for a yearly checkup and his regular nail trim, my Dad somewhat refused to take him in due to being "too busy". Out of the two months Koda was in my father's care, he did not have one hour to take him to the vet that was literally not even a block from his house.
For some reason while Koda and I were away from each other, I had a really bad feeling about Koda's health overall. He was staying in the garage (with the garage door opening and closing constantly), with next to no sunlight, nor socializing besides my Dad checking his food and water. I was very worried that Koda was becoming depressed without me around to take care of him, and it made me upset that my father could not take the time to take him into the vet.
About a couple weeks ago, I finally got my bunny back from my Dad when he came to visit my Nana in Portland. As soon as I brought him home, I noticed something was wrong and Koda was not himself. I could hear him breathing heavily from across the room and when I lightly touched his sides, I could feel his ribs AND a horrid whooshing as he breathed. This scared me to death and I really thought I was going to need to take him to emergency care. I waited until the next morning and my roommate was able to take me to get him checked.
Another week later (today) I got Koda's culture results back from the vet and he has pasteurella. I am so saddened to know that my bunny could have been suffering from this for who knows how long, and my Dad did not even notice a thing about it. Koda has not been around rabbits for the past two or so years I've had him, so I have no idea how he got it.
I'm reaching out to you guys for some help now, and possible comfort about this situation. I know at least some of you know about this illness and have experience taking care of bunnies with it. What have you done to make your bunny as comfortable as possible?
Koda is taking 2cc of Ambipen (penicillin) a day via syringe and pro pectalin via oral treatment. I have seen some major improvements since starting treatment a week ago (I barely hear him breathing anymore, he doesn't seem to be in major discomfort, he's binkying when he sees me or my roommate come into the room)... so I am just terrified about seeing him wither in time and I am not sure what to do. ANY kind of advice would help. Thanks so much everyone. <3
This is going to be kind of a long post, so bare with me. I have been moving frequently and due to some major family problems, I had to move back to Portland, OR from Medford, OR on a very short notice. Unfortunately I could not take Koda with me for the first two months of me being back in Portland, so he stayed with my Dad and and my Dad agreed to care for him until Koda was able to be returned to me.
While Koda was staying with my Dad in Medford, I ordered Koda's supplies online and had it directly shipped to my Dad's door so he didn't have to hassle with getting his food and litter himself. However, when I tried to send money to my Dad to get Koda scheduled for a yearly checkup and his regular nail trim, my Dad somewhat refused to take him in due to being "too busy". Out of the two months Koda was in my father's care, he did not have one hour to take him to the vet that was literally not even a block from his house.
For some reason while Koda and I were away from each other, I had a really bad feeling about Koda's health overall. He was staying in the garage (with the garage door opening and closing constantly), with next to no sunlight, nor socializing besides my Dad checking his food and water. I was very worried that Koda was becoming depressed without me around to take care of him, and it made me upset that my father could not take the time to take him into the vet.
About a couple weeks ago, I finally got my bunny back from my Dad when he came to visit my Nana in Portland. As soon as I brought him home, I noticed something was wrong and Koda was not himself. I could hear him breathing heavily from across the room and when I lightly touched his sides, I could feel his ribs AND a horrid whooshing as he breathed. This scared me to death and I really thought I was going to need to take him to emergency care. I waited until the next morning and my roommate was able to take me to get him checked.
Another week later (today) I got Koda's culture results back from the vet and he has pasteurella. I am so saddened to know that my bunny could have been suffering from this for who knows how long, and my Dad did not even notice a thing about it. Koda has not been around rabbits for the past two or so years I've had him, so I have no idea how he got it.
I'm reaching out to you guys for some help now, and possible comfort about this situation. I know at least some of you know about this illness and have experience taking care of bunnies with it. What have you done to make your bunny as comfortable as possible?
Koda is taking 2cc of Ambipen (penicillin) a day via syringe and pro pectalin via oral treatment. I have seen some major improvements since starting treatment a week ago (I barely hear him breathing anymore, he doesn't seem to be in major discomfort, he's binkying when he sees me or my roommate come into the room)... so I am just terrified about seeing him wither in time and I am not sure what to do. ANY kind of advice would help. Thanks so much everyone. <3
I love him so much and it broke my heart seeing him struggle with breathing the first night I had him back. I'm also angry with my Dad for not noticing any symptoms of illness. He said if he would have noticed anything, he would have taken him to the vet... I don't believe him.
